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the night watchman
Studio Exec
Joined: 27 Jun 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Dark, run-down shack by the graveyard.
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 Posted: 07.20.2003 1:33 am Post subject: Vincent Gallo's "The Brown Bunny" |
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| I have a strange fascination with "bad" movies, or at least movies that take a critical or popular hammering. Needless to say, Vincent Gallo's "The Brown Bunny" currently has my attention. Has anyone on the boards seen this movie? Anybody know when it's scheduled for release, or where I can go to read some reviews? (I tried reading one in French that actually seemed to be positive, but that might have more to do with my French than the intentions of the reviewer.) What's everyone's expectations for this movie; what are your feelings about the skewering it received at Cannes? |
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beltmann
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 07.20.2003 2:06 am Post subject: |
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I've been following Gallo's career for some time, so I was looking forward to BROWN BUNNY even prior to the Cannes flap, but I admit that the reception has raised my interest further. I have no idea when--or if--a North American release will happen, which broaches one of my favorite topics: Why must film audiences be at the total mercy of a handful of mercenary film distributors?
My feelings about the skewering are varied. I'd like to assume that the reception was generally accurate, but it would be foolish not to overlook the political discord between the U.S. and France as a variable, as well as the fact that Gallo is personally very unpopular. Plus, even in criticism the mob mentality rules.
At worst, the movie sounds very interesting. Besides, as someone who once endured THAT DARN CAT, MCHALE'S NAVY and BOOTY CALL consecutively one afternoon at the movies, I feel that I can take anything.
Eric |
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the night watchman
Studio Exec
Joined: 27 Jun 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Dark, run-down shack by the graveyard.
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| Posted: 07.20.2003 2:15 am Post subject: |
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| beltmann wrote: | | At worst, the movie sounds very interesting. Besides, as someone who once endured THAT DARN CAT, MCHALE'S NAVY and BOOTY CALL consecutively one afternoon at the movies, I feel that I can take anything. |
You are a stalwart movie-goer indeed.
| beltmann wrote: | | Why must film audiences be at the total mercy of a handful of mercenary film distributors? |
Well, I guess the answer to that is the bottom line: money. Movies, as much as I'd like it to be otherwise, are a business; distributing a movie costs money, and a distributor wouldn't be able to stay in business for long by putting out unpopular product, regardless of that product's relative quality.
By the way, why is Gallo unpopular? I thought he was somewhat of a critical darling. |
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beltmann
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 07.20.2003 2:34 am Post subject: |
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| the night watchman wrote: | | Movies, as much as I'd like it to be otherwise, are a business; distributing a movie costs money, and a distributor wouldn't be able to stay in business for long by putting out unpopular product, regardless of that product's relative quality. |
Of course. Yet I would argue that distributors in this country cling to outmoded methods and obsolete preconceptions about what the audience is like and what the audience desires. As Stuart Klawans said, "Some executives, those with enough power to dominate their markets, decide in advance what people want, then justify their decision by noting that people have indeed bought the only available products. With entertainment, as with drugs, the product eventually creates a demand for itself." The real question, then, as Jonathan Rosenbaum asked, is: How can the public know what it wants if it doesn't know its choices?
| the night watchman wrote: | | By the way, why is Gallo unpopular? I thought he was somewhat of a critical darling. |
Yeah, he received a lot of attention after Buffalo 66 (which I really like, for the most part). But since then he's gained a reputation for being rather narcissistic, pretentious, difficult, and--strangely--politically conservative. Having never met the man, I can't say how much of that is fact and how much is just media spin.
Eric |
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the night watchman
Studio Exec
Joined: 27 Jun 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Dark, run-down shack by the graveyard.
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| Posted: 07.20.2003 2:44 am Post subject: |
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| beltmann wrote: |
Of course. Yet I would argue that distributors in this country cling to outmoded methods and obsolete preconceptions about what the audience is like and what the audience desires. As Stuart Klawans said, "Some executives, those with enough power to dominate their markets, decide in advance what people want, then justify their decision by noting that people have indeed bought the only available products. With entertainment, as with drugs, the product eventually creates a demand for itself." The real question, then, as Jonathan Rosenbaum asked, is: How can the public know what it wants if it doesn't know its choices?
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Good points, but I have less faith in the tastes of the public at large; only this explains why Michael Bay has a career.  |
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filmsRpriceless
Camera Operator
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 65
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| Posted: 07.20.2003 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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Like Eric, I was intrigued to see this movie even before the controversy and I can't wait.
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